Outscoring the opposition was the mentality at Tottenham final season however now the main target is on preserving out objectives on the different finish of the pitch.
Tuesday’s 1-0 win towards Villarreal in Spurs’ Champions League opener was the fourth clear sheet that they had saved in 5 video games to date this season below Thomas Frank.
In distinction, that they had saved only one on the similar stage of final season, when the extra attack-minded Ange Postecoglou was in cost.
“We talked quite a bit about ‘clear sheet mentality’ this yr as a result of we conceded quite a bit final yr,” Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall advised Amazon Prime.
“They [Villarreal] didn’t have a shot on course, so we did a extremely good job.”
Defender Micky van de Ven added: “I feel we’re a troublesome crew to play towards, for certain. Construction-wise we’re standing actually good and everyone knows what to do, so we’re a troublesome crew to beat.”
The model of Frank’s Tottenham aspect towards Villarreal was in stark distinction to the swashbuckling soccer performed below Postecoglou.
They have been far more cautious, even after being gifted a fourth-minute opener because of a calamitous mistake by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior.
However their defence was wonderful, with Van de Ven in notably halting most of Villarreal’s assaults.
Although the guests had 10 pictures, Guglielmo Vicario did not have a save to make all through.
The value for that stage of pragmatism was that Tottenham themselves solely had one shot on course – little or no for the house followers to get enthusiastic about.
“We defended rather well and gave little away all through the sport towards a extremely good Villarreal aspect,” Frank mentioned.
“I feel offensively we did not hit the very best stage. There was positively a spell second half the place we determined let’s give it to the Villarreal guys after which we’ll dash again, that is an excellent enjoyable factor.
“It was a really even sport that we simply edged.”
